This section provides information and advice on dealing with the eradication of fleas from your home or workplace.
Whilst the type of flea which crop up in the average British household do not tend to be disease carriers, their intensely irritating bites can make life unpleasant for people.
Fleas are also extremely hardy and show remarkable persistence.
Fortunately, there are steps which you can take to avoid your home or workplace being infected.
Fleas are persistent
Nobody likes a parasite, but the flea shows remarkable persistence. Whilst they prefer certain host animals (hence cat flea, dog flea, human flea), they are not fussy when it comes to the next meal and will hop aboard any passer-by (man or beast) for a free lunch.
Cat fleas are the most common household variety, but not owning a cat does not guarantee you immunity.
Fitted carpets and central heating provide ideal conditions for fleas to develop quickly through their life cycle. Eggs laid on the host animal readily drop off wherever the animal goes, especially where it sleeps.
The larvae (1.5mm) hatch and feed on any organic debris they can find, after which they spin a silken cocoon from which they emerge as hungry adult fleas - all of this time is in the space of 4 weeks.
Fleas Bite!
Whilst cat fleas are not implicated in the transmission of disease, their intensely irritating bites demand our urgent attention.
Cat fleas will attack the lower portions of the legs, especially the ankles, but it is not uncommon for some members of the family to receive more bits than others.
